Me: But we’re both taking the night off cooking. I’ll stop by the diner for takeout after work. Text me your order.
After quitting time,I drive to the diner to pick up dinner. I wonder if Rosalie likes pie, and which kind is her favorite. I should text and ask, but I decide to surprise her. Rosalie doesn’t strike me as someone who indulges often, and I want her to feel free to do so this week.
I want her to indulge in me, too.
When I pull into the parking lot, I immediately spot Aiden’s truck. Looks like I’m not the only one taking a night off cooking. When I push inside, he’s sitting across the diner with Sarah in one of the booths.
“Just one?” The girl behind the cash register asks as I step forward.
I shake my head in the negative. “I actually have an order to pick up. I called ahead.”
“Jackson, right?” Her cheeks fill with a blush as she averts her gaze.
“That’s me.” I force a friendly smile. This girl can’t be more than twenty. I’m not rude, but I also make sure my body language discourages any attraction on her end.
She glances back at the counter before meeting my gaze. “Should only be a few more minutes. Can I get you something to drink whileyou wait?”
“I’m good, thanks.” I nod and point to where Aiden and Sarah are waving me over. “I’ll be over there when it’s ready.”
“Jax!” Aiden pops out of the booth to give me a hug as I approach their table. “What are you doing here? Don’t you grub at the lodge most workdays?”
I hug Sarah next, then Aiden scoots to the far side of the booth and pats the spot next to him.
“Please, join us,” Sarah invites, which is awfully generous of her. With two teenagers in the house, I doubt these two get to enjoy many meals as a couple.
I slide into the booth. “Believe it or not, some days all I want is to go back to the house and enjoy a meal on my own.”
“Things not going well on the ranch?” Aiden frowns.
“No.” I wave off his concern. “I just like my alone time.”
“Jackson?” The young girl sets down two giant paper bags filled with food. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.”
“Alone, huh?” My brother chuckles. “That’s a lot of food for one person.”
“I’m a growing boy.” I flash him a grin.
“Right,” Aiden teases. “Should’ve known the only time you’d pay for a meal is to get laid.”
“Aiden!” Sarah chastises.
“What?” My brother is still smiling as he turns to me. “Tell me I’m wrong.”
The desire to put him in his place is overtaken by my protectiveness of Rosalie. That, and my pride.
“You got me.” I infuse some playfulness into my tone. “I better get going. Don’t want to keep my overnight guest waiting. Y’all enjoy your evening.”
“You too.” My brother winks suggestively.
My mood turns grumpy as I leave the diner. Fuck Aiden. I wish I hadn’t run into him and Sarah. I was perfectly content withspending a night in with Rosalie before Aiden’s teasing. Now, I feel like a loser.
The fact that my family thinks I’m incapable of anything other than random hookups doesn’t feel great. I’ve always played into that character, but now I have to wonder if I’ve messed up by letting them assume I don’t care about anyone besides myself. Is that what Rosalie assumes too?
I’ve never given much thought to what people say. I don’t really care. I know who I am, and that’s all that matters. At least, that was true until now. Is that why Rosalie texted what she did earlier? Does she think I’d rather be fucking some situationship than spending time with her?
My bad mood clings to me like a second skin I can’t shake. Normally, a drive clears my mind, but I still feel off-kilter by the time I pull into my drive and park behind Rosalie’s car.
